Carrier tape with anti-mismating device

ABSTRACT

A carrier tape ( 1 ) adapted for accommodating a component ( 4 ) comprises a main body ( 2 ) and a plurality of pockets ( 3 ) recessed downwardly from the main body ( 2 ). Each of the pockets ( 3 ) comprises a bottom wall ( 321 ) and at least a sidewall ( 31 ) to define a receiving space for receiving the component. The bottom wall ( 321 ) of the pocket forms with a protruding body ( 322 ) protruding into the receiving space of the pocket. A mating portion ( 33 ) protrudes into the receiving space from the protruding body ( 322 ) to mate with the component to prevent the component from mismating with the pocket ( 3 ).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention is generally related to a carrier tape for handingelectronic components, and especially to a carrier tape with ananti-mismating device.

2. Description of Related Art

In general, a carrier tape that is used to transport and storagecomponents from a component manufacturer to a different manufacturerthat assembles the components into electronic devices are well known.

Rather than manually fixing each individual component to an electronicdevice, the electronic industry makes extensive use of robotic placementmachines, sometimes known as “pick-and-place” machines, which grasp acomponent at a specific location and place it at another specificlocation. To ensure the sustained operation of the robotic placementmachine, a continuous supply of electronic components must be furnishedto the machine at a predetermined rate and location to permit themachine to be programmed to repeat a precise sequence of movementsduring every cycle. It is therefore important that the components mustbe retained in the carrier tape in a proper predetermined position. Onthe other hand, in order to ensure security of shipment and storage ofthe components, the components also must be must be retained in thecarrier tape in a proper position even manually fixing each individualcomponent to an electronic device.

The carrier tape defines a plurality of pockets to receive thecomponents. When the pockets are irregular shape corresponding toexterior of the components, such as disclosure in FIG. 2 of U.S. Pat.No. 6,892,886, the pockets and the components have identificationfunctions themselves to have the components accommodated in rightposition of the pockets. However, when the pockets have regular shape,such as rectangular or square shape, disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos.6,729,474 and 5,729,963, the components may be easily accommodated inthe pockets in an improper position by mistakes. Thus, it is easily todamage the components or the carrier tape and produce excessivedifficulties in subsequent steps.

Hence, an improved carrier tape is highly desired to overcome theaforementioned disadvantages of the prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a carriertape with an anti-mismating device.

To achieve the above object, a carrier tape adapted for accommodating acomponent comprises a main body and a plurality of pockets recesseddownwardly from the main body. Each of the pockets comprises a bottomwall and at least a sidewall to define a receiving space for receivingthe component. The bottom wall of the pocket forms with a protrudingbody protruding into the receiving space of the pocket. A mating portionprotrudes into the receiving space from the protruding body to mate withthe component to prevent the component from mismating with the pocket.

Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present inventionwill be drawn from the following detailed description of a preferredembodiment of the present invention with attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an assembled, perspective view of a carrier tape in accordancewith the present invention with a component accommodated in;

FIG. 2 is an exploded, perspective view of the carrier tape of FIG. 1;and

FIG. 3 is an exploded, perspective view similar to FIG. 2, but takenfrom another aspect.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiment of thepresent invention.

In commonly, a carrier tape comprises a plurality of pockets forreceived a plurality of corresponding components. Because the pluralityof pockets have same configuration, therefore, a single unit of thecarrier tap is illustrated in the present invention for convenience.

Referring to FIGS. 1-3, the carrier tape 1 adapted for receiving acomponent 4 comprises a main body 2 and a pocket 3 recessed downwardlyfrom an upper face of the body 2. A plurality of though holes 21 areformed besides the pocket 3 along the carrier tape 2 to receive teeth ofa drive sprocket that advances the carrier tape towards a nextprocedure.

The component 4, such as a flexible printed circuit (FPC), isapproximately rectangular configuration. The component 4 comprises abody portion 41 and a plurality of side portions 42 downwardly extendingfrom four lateral sides of the body portion 41, respectively. The bodyportion 41 is formed with a mating hole 43 near a corner thereof.

Referring to FIGS. 2-3, the pocket 3 comprises a bottom wall 321 and aplurality of sidewalls 31, commonly defining a receiving space (notlabeled) with an upward opening. The pocket 3 is approximatelyrectangular and a protruding body (not labeled) protruding upwardly andexposed into the receiving space from an approximate middle portion ofthe bottom wall 321. The protruding body comprises an upper wall 322 anda plurality of sidewalls downwardly connecting with the bottom wall 32,thus also defining a small space isolated from the receiving space ofthe pocket 3. The sidewalls of the protruding body spaces away from thecorresponding sidewalls 31 of the pocket 3 to leave a space among there.A plurality of inclined faces are formed at corners between thesidewalls 31 and the upper face of the main body 2.

The upper wall 322 of the protruding body is formed with a matingportion 33 protruding upwardly into the receiving space of the pocket 3.The mating portion 33 is approximately sphere configuration in thisembodiment. When the component 4 is received in the pocket 3, theprotruding body sustains the component 4 in the pocket 3 and the matingportion 33 mates with the mating hole 43 to ensure the component 4 toaccommodate properly in the carrier tape 1 so as to avoid mismating ofthe component 4 and the carrier tape 1. The side portions 42 of thecomponent 4 accommodate in the space among the sidewalls of the pocket 3and the protruding body.

In the present, the mating portion 33 is also be other configurations,such as column, circular spot or recessed portion etc. The shape of thepocket and the protruding body vary corresponding to exteriorconfiguration of the component.

While a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present inventionhas been shown and described, equivalent modifications and changes knownto persons skilled in the art according to the spirit of the presentinvention are considered within the scope of the present invention asdescribed in the appended claims.

1. A carrier tape adapted for accommodating a component, comprising: amain body and a plurality of pockets recessed downwardly from the mainbody; each of the pockets comprising a bottom wall and at least asidewall to define a receiving space for receiving the component; andthe bottom wall of the pocket formed with a protruding body protrudinginto the receiving space of the pocket, and a mating portion protrudinginto the receiving space from the protruding body to mate with thecomponent to prevent the component from mismating with the pocket. 2.The carrier tape as described in claim 1, wherein the protruding bodycomprises an upper wall and the mating portion is formed on the upperwall.
 3. The carrier tape as described in claim 1, wherein the componentdefines a mating hole thereon to mate with the mating portion.
 4. Thecarrier tape as described in claim 3, wherein the mating portion isapproximately spherical.
 5. The carrier tape as described in claim 1,wherein the protruding body comprises at least a sidewall spaced awayfrom the sidewall of the pocket.
 6. The carrier tape as described inclaim 5, wherein the pocket is approximately cubic configuration.
 7. Thecarrier tape as described in claim 1, wherein an inclined face is formedat corner between the sidewall of pocket and the main body.
 8. Thecarrier tape as described in claim 1, wherein the protruding bodysustains the component in the pocket.
 9. A carrier tape adapted foraccommodating a component, comprising: a main body and a plurality ofpockets recessed downwardly from the main body; each of the pocketscomprising a bottom wall and at least a sidewall to define a receivingspace for receiving the component; and a protruding body exposed intothe receiving space of the pocket, the protruding body comprising atleast a sidewall and an upper face sustaining the component in thepocket.
 10. The carrier tape as described in claim 9, wherein theprotruding body is unitary with the pocket and the protruding bodyprotrudes into the pocket from the bottom wall of the pocket.
 11. Thecarrier tape as described in claim 9, wherein a mating portion protrudesfrom the upper face of the protruding body.
 12. The carrier tape asdescribed in claim 11, wherein the component defines a mating hole tomate with the mating portion of the protruding body.
 13. The carriertape as described in claim 9, wherein the mating portion isapproximately spherical.
 14. The carrier tape as described in claim 9,wherein the sidewall of the protruding body spaces away from thecorresponding sidewall of the pocket.
 15. The carrier tape as describedin claim 9, wherein the component is a flexible printed circuit.
 16. Incombination, a carrier tap defining a loop like trough structure with aprotrusion provided in a center section with a mating portion upwardlyextending therefrom in an eccentric position; and a container likecomponent defining a plate vertically covering said protrusion with anopening vertically aligned with and circumferentially coupled to saidmating potion; wherein said component further includes at least one sidewall downwardly extending from an edge of said plate and into saidtrough structure.